Vertagear SL4000 Review, Size & Buying Guide

In late 2015 Vertagear appeared on the gaming chair scene with very promising ambitions and innovative products. One of them beeing the SL4000 that I did an in-depth review about on release – and I am going to polish that one up for you guys today.

Since almost all the brands at that time were buying off the rack – or at least it seemed like that – the community welcomed the fresh SL4000 with its realistic motorsports aesthetics and sophisticated function set. In combination with the brand’s pro-consumer mindset and the promise to incorporate consumer feedback into their design process, the S-Line filled an important niche which was long overdue.

Anyways, stay tuned for what is coming up: A contemporary SL4000 review that comprises almost two years of field-testing experiences with this seat!

My SL4000 Review

The review video features the assembly as well as a little tour of its customization abilities. Since I am speaking German throughout this video, you will find it hard to understand a word, but I will produce a new one or do a voiceover soon (all of the video’s intel and much more can also be found in this review).

I remember that I was excited about doing this SL4000 review back in the days since the specs sounded very promising and it just looked so cool. I am not sure what they did differently, but their luscious colours were one of a kind at this time making it even harder for me to decide which one to go for – in the end, I picked the black/carbon version.

I recommend buying on overclockers: good prices, excellent support and expertise

First Impressions Of The SL4000

The shape: aggressively ergonomic

The overall shape of the SL4000 – as you will have noticed looking at the picture – is just in-your-face with its uniquely designed, bold side boulders and ergonomic shaping of the seating surface. While complementing the race car aesthetic, these elements will most definitely also have an impact on the sitting sensation, but I will get into the field testing later.

Beautifully implemented carbon optic

The remarkable carbon optic you can find on pillows, side boulders, backrest as well as on the seating surface adds to the SL4000’s sporty overall picture. Even though I prefer dark, plain colours I like that fact that this chair is not “just black” but upgraded with these realistic looking carbon elements.

PVC instead of PU faux leather

I am not sure why but Vertagear decided to cover their S- and P-Line in PVC instead of the usual PU its business rivals have been using. What does that mean for us customers?

In theory, PVC is stiffer, more prone to wear from abrasion and less dirt-repellant while PU simulates the warm, soft feel of genuine leather more realistically – so quality-wise PU seems superior, PVC is just cheaper. I will examine if the practical use corresponds with this theory later during this review.

Boldly shaped shoulder area & vents

On the first look, the sweeping shoulder area is one of these design aspects that come to everyone’s attention. Furthermore, the two vents are also bigger and more pronounced than usual which adds to the stand-out character of the SL4000.

Base & casters

The alloyed aluminium base of all the S-Line chairs has a black powder coating. In combination with the steel frame and class 4 gas lift these components vest the SL4000 to carry a max load of 150 kilos – theoretically. The casters roll silently and should not put too much stress on you floorings; I would say that they are above average function as well as quality-wise. Optically the wheels were created after rims of a car with little gaps between the crossbars.

The casters roll silently and should not put too much stress on you floorings; I would say that they are above average function as well as quality-wise. Optically the wheels were created after rims of a car with little gaps between the crossbars. (Update: The rev. 2 of the SL4000 has an upgraded base and casters; for further information about the made changes read on)

Adjustability: The S-Line ’s Got It All!

4 directional armrests

In matters of adjustability Vertagear did not accept compromises, and so they equipped their SL4000 chairs with 4-directional armrests. Back when the S-Line was released this was a feature only way more expensive seats like the King were providing, and even today only GT Omega does sell chairs with 4D-armrests at a lower price.

As usual, due to their flexibility, these armrests are a little wobbly but not any more than it is the case with competing products except of course for the EPIC Series.

Lumbar & neck supporting cushions

Frequent readers might have noticed that I tend to complain a little about PU covered pillows here and there – fabric cushions like noblechairs uses them are just comfier overall. Anyways, this time it is PVC … and that does not make it any better. In practice, however, I would say that the SL4000’s PVC coated cushions are on the same level as pillows from the likes of DXRacer or AKRacing. The lumbar support is noticeably softer than most competing products which earns the chair a little bonus that makes up for the stiffer cover.

The decoration – carbon elements and logo prints – is very nicely done and finally, the affixing of the pillows is business as usual.

The magic lever

You can recline the backrest down to 150 degrees which is sufficient for any serious purpose. On the way down, it is lockable almost stepplessly at any point, and you can achieve a few degrees more via the rocking function that is also lockable – all through the little lever depicted above that adjusts the seat height as well in a 10-centimetre range. (Update: The sitting height of the SL4000 was also affected by the upgrade to rev. 2; I get more specific further down below)

What else?

This picture gives you a basic idea of how the whole construction was put together by Vertagear – all in all, very sturdy. You can also see the knob that allows you to regulate the sensitivity of the rocking mechanism according to your bodyweight.

Field-Testing The SL4000 For Nearly 2 Years

With my stature – 1.89cm & 85 kilos – the SL4000 is not the best fit for me. At least not for doing a long-term field-test of this chair. So once again I got a colleague involved who tips the scale at around 75kg and is 1.76 in height which is optimal for this seat’s measurements and shaping (find out more in the SL4000 Size Guide).

Long-Term Comfort

The sitting experience in the SL4000 is as racing like as it gets. Just take a look at that shaping of the mid-frontal part of the seat’s surface that sits between your legs – I have not seen that before. This gaming chair hugs your body through all it’s contact areas and gives you unparalleled support.

While this kind of support is desirable for racing enthusiasts, it can backfire during longer gaming sessions if your stature is not fitting the SL4000 optimally. If your shoulders or your thighs are a little wider, you will feel cramped after some time. So make sure you check out my SL4000 Size Guide in this review, and you will be okay.

The PVC cover has a different surface feel but does not damp down the comfort while seated. It just does not feel like leather when you touch it – it is stiffer, and the texture is different from common faux or genuine leather. So even though on paper PU wins the battle over PVC the latter did not provoke any discomfort during our testing period.

What about breathability? Well, even tough Vertagear claims that the special open-pores structure of the PVC upholstery enables it to breathe I can not say that there was any less or more sweating going on while seated.

Overall Quality-Level

I think the pictures speak for themselves: The manufacturing quality is beyond expectations for this pricing range. Very precise stitchings, no threads sticking out, no excessive wrinkling of the cover and the core construction is just very robust.

Now, what is there to improve? I still think a PU (or of course real) leather cover would upgrade the optics as well as the feel of the chair. It would also allow for an even more precise alignment of the cover with less play. Furthermore, ever since noblechairs proofed with their EPIC Series that you can attach 4D-armrests in a way that makes them less wobbly there is no excuse anymore for not doing that – keep in mind though, that noblechairs is the only brand realising that change yet and they are playing in a higher price range.

So all in all, I think that the quality – except for the cover material – is exceeding expectations in relation to the SL4000’s cost which renders it an attractive option for anyone who fits in.

Any Signs Of Wear?

I do not know if it is due to the stiffness and thickness of the PVC, but the SL4000’s cover does not show any signs of wear.

The rest of the chair certainly has a few scratches here and there but other than that it looks as good as new.

The Upgrade: SL4000 Rev. 2 – What’s New!?

The company kept its promises and implemented some minor changes as an answer to customer feedback. So, a few months after the initial release of the SL4000 they launched a second revision that comprises the following alternations:

Design changes to gas lift, base and casters: If you compare the picture above of the rev. 2 model with the original pictures in my SL4000 review you will notice that these parts have been given a much more refined and unique shaping. The casters now also feature a fitting two-tone design and the brand’s logo in the centre.

The height of the seat: To make their chairs available for an even bigger crowd Vertaear adjusted the mounting of the gas lift to lower the overall sitting height by a few centimetres.

Design Alternatives & Original Accessories

There are seven different designs available with either black or white as the foundation combined with a second colour like red, green, blue or white – and of course, there is the black carbon version that you can admire in my SL4000 review. I think the design aspect is something the S-Line trumps with and the colours look particularly vibrant and vivid.

Regarding accessories, there are several casters of the newer unibody generation available: A 65mm as well as a 75mm variant both with or without auto-lock functionality. The latter is triggered by the user’s weight and stops your SL4000 from slipping away while you are gaming. You can find all the accessories here: → Check out on Overclockers UK!

SL4000 Size Guide

As I said: The SL4000 is an excellent gaming chair with its own unique charms, and it certainly gives good bang for the buck. However, it is of vital importance that you pay attention to my size guide – anything else and you will be gambling with your future sitting comfort.

Height-wise everything up to a max of 1.90 meters is welcome. In matters of weight, you have to be more cautious if you want to profit from the SL4000’s ergonomic shape. Anything below average goes well with this chair, but 90 kilos is the absolute max even though it theoretically carries up 150kgs. Personally, I think if you weigh more than 80 to 85 kilos you should rather check out the SL5000 or the Triigger Series.

150 kgs is the max load for this sturdy chair with its steel frame, class 4 gas lift and high-density foam

A race car like support like getting hugged from behind is the SL4000’s speciality

Although it’s support makes this chair very comfy it is very dependant on a certain user size – if you are too big, you will feel cramped after long hours

Ambitioned company behind it that pays attention to customers – the upgraded Rev. 2 is a prime example for that

At almost the cost of a Formula Series chair from DXRacer, the SL4000 is very cost effective

The SL4000 offers premium flexibility, a unique design and elaborate ergonomics. The distinct support by its side boulders and characteristic seating surface gives the user a realistic sportscar feeling – the seat literally hugs you from behind. Even though Vertagear went a little money-conscious by choosing PVC over PU the overall quality is convincing rendering the SL4000 a great choice for anyone who fits into it!